Gender in the Oval Portrait

http://poestories.com/read/ovalportrait



What role does gender play in Poe's short story. 

The New Normal?

How many ways are there to learn?  We live in a traditional community with traditional schools.  However, there are some very creative, different approaches to education being tested all over the world.  Your job this weekend is to find a non-traditional school, provide a link, and explain in the blog what makes this school unique.  What methods are they using, how is their approach different, and what is it that makes the school successful? 
Here is an example.  Good Luck!
http://academy.interlochen.org/motion-picture-arts-major?utm_campaign=iaa_mpa&utm_medium=cpc&gclid=CO_FrdPe37wCFacDOgod2XQALQ


You may not repeat a school and/or a type of school.  So far, I found a film school and Jessica has an alternative education school listed.  Go for different!  There are some really interesting schools out there.

Pick a Controvesey, any Controversey!

Choose one of the topics from the list.  You may NOT choose your own literary specialist topic.  Once you have chosen a topic, speak to the controversy surrounding that topic.  Argue at least one point about the subject and back it up with evidence. Include a work cited at the bottom of the entry. Here are your choices:

Child Abuse
Space Travel and Exploration
Gene Therapy
Poverty
Homeschooling
The Overuse and or Abuse of Social Media
Parenting Strategies
The Holocaust
The Rwandan Genocide
Drug Trafficking
Concussions in Sports
Excessive or Obsessive Running
The Afghan War
Foster Care

Only one person can choose the topic.  That  way, all of them will be discussed.  Log on early to get the topic of your choice!

Two Kinds of Catholics?

http://www.theamericanconservative.com/a-catholic-showdown-worth-watching/

This is a difficult article so you will have to employ your skills in close reading. You may also need to do some digging to ensure your understanding of the piece.  Look up any people or words with which you are not familiar.  Once you feel you grasp the meaning  behind the article, write about the two "different sides" of Catholicism.  Do you agree with the author's assessment of American Catholics?  With which side to you most associate yourself and or your family?  Perhaps you are still following blindly, but this offers a lot of room for thought and lively debate!  Do not be afraid to give your fellow students a challenging comment, and do not shy away from refuting any comments you believe deserve refuting!
Good Luck! 
FYI Mr. MacDonald will be joining our conversation on this one.  Do not be surprised if you see a comment from him.